Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Denton receives $352,000 in federal funds to aid in building Regional Public Safety Training Facility

By Pegasus News wire

Denton County Courthouse

DENTON — The City of Denton recently received $352,000 in federal funds to be used toward building a state-of-the-art joint police and fire Regional Public Safety Training Facility at 4201 Vintage Blvd., Denton. U.S. Congressman Michael Burgess, R-26, was instrumental in the process of the monies being awarded. Congressman Burgess and Denton Mayor Perry McNeill will meet on Thursday, March 27, 10 a.m. at Fire Station 7, 4201 Vintage Blvd. to discuss the proposed uses of the funds.

“I am grateful to Congressman Burgess for the support he has given to promote the Denton City Council’s goals to improve safety in our community,” said Mayor McNeill. “The Regional Public Safety Training Facility will be a state-of-the-art facility that will allow public safety personnel in Denton and the region to meet and exceed ongoing day-to-day training requirements from basic academics to advanced programs through a partnership with North Central Texas College. This facility has been one of my personal top priorities since my initial election to Council in 2001, so I am particularly pleased with the federal funds we received.”

In November 2004, the City purchased an 88-acre site for the building of the facility at a cost of $2.03 million. In July 2005, the City hired Kirkpatrick Architectural Studio, Denton, for $205,500 to work on the master plan for the facility. In July 2007, the City Council approved almost $12.6 million for the construction of the facility.

The City hopes to open the Regional Public Safety Training Facility sometime in the fall of 2009.

“Police, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel stand ready to respond in a crisis no matter what, and they deserve a federal government that stands ready to support them in return. I’m pleased to be able to deliver a down payment that demonstrates such a federal commitment,” said Congressman Burgess.

The first phase of the Regional Public Safety Training Facility began on April 30, 2007, with the opening of fire station 7 on a portion of the 88-acre site. This fire station was awarded a Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating from the United States Green Building Council. Station 7 is only the second fire station in the nation to receive this rating. The building was designed and built using LEED standards.

Source: City of Denton

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